Best sling in Qld heat and easy to use?

[runnermum]

hi there,
we are moving to the Gold Coast very soon and bubba #2 will be born in January.

I am considering a sling or maybe other baby carrier like the Ergo, MOSTLY FOR USE IN THE FIRST MONTHS!!. Here are my concerns:

I want it to be cool to wear !! And prefer not to have newborn have skin/legs exposed to sun.
comforable on back and shoulders!!!
I want it to be easy to put on/off.
It will be used mainly for shorter trips - shopping, dropping son off at school etc..
Would like it to fit me and hubby but may not be possible as i am a size 8-10 and he is a big shouldered guy.

what are your suggestions? So much appreciated !!!!

[PinkPalace]

i lived in airlie beach for 2 years and used a baby rock 100% cotton sling (not a front pouch) and it was fine. However if i still lived there i would get their mesh ones. that would provide ventilation in the heat.

They are adjustable and DH used it too. very easy to change the size with 1 hand. whilst bub is in the sling too.

The gold coast you prob wont get that many 'over the top hot days' so you will be ok with what ever sling as long as you look for a breathable material.

hth

[suse]

A ring sling in linen/cotton blend or cotton would be your best option. Rings Slings are great for newborns (they can be carried in multiple positions), and the tail of the sling can be used to cover their heads and when breastfeeding.

Bear Hug Baby is a great sling that is Australian made. They also do a summer sling in a mesh type material (as well as cotton and linen), but I personally find that synthetic meshes, whilst they allow airflow, are not as inherently breathable and comfortable as natural fibres. Other people love them though, so that's just my opinion.

If you can find one (they are really hard to find because the material has been discontinued), a ring sling in Solarveil is UV resistant and great for wearing in the shower/water as it dries really quickly. I think that Taylormade still stock them. And Sleeping Baby Productions still has some solarveil left, but in very limited colours.

Other natural fibre options could be a Maya lightly padded ring sling, or Ellaroo. Or if you want to go for something really spesh, Sakura Bloom do single layer Belgian linen slings which are just gorgeous.

I wouldn't recommend the heavily padded ring or buckle slings like Bubba Moe or Baby Rock as the heavy padding reduces the adjustability, making them much less comfortable to wear. (Baby rock do a mesh type sling that is designed for hot climates, but from experience I found it very uncomfortable to wear). ETA: some people like them, and they do work for some, but the main problem is that because of the heavy padding in the rails, these cannot be adjusted beyond a certain point, or independently to the body, so many people of smaller stature find that they can't be tightened sufficiently, especially the top rail. This causes bubs to lean or sag, and increases the strain on the shoulders.

[~Raven~]

If it's only for the first few months you intend on wearing one then an Ergo is a bit of overkill as it's designed for the bigger bub to toddler hence being able to wear it on you back. It does have the infant insert but I think with that bit it may be a bit too thick in the heat.

Suse has listed some great options!